Ukrainian 72nd Mechanized Brigade returned home after 3-year deployment in Donbass region

After 3 years in Donetsk region as part of anti-terror operation on Donbass, soldiers from the 72nd Mechanized Brigade — dubbed the “Black Zaporizhian” for its fearsome combat reputation, are returning home to Bila Tserkva.

The 72nd Mechanized Brigade “Black Zaporizhian” (Chornykh Zaporozhtsiv in Ukrainian) is one of most powerful formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The 72nd Mechanized Brigade took part in an armed conflict in the Donbass region of Ukraine from the beginning of March 2014.

Demonstrations by pro-Russian groups in the Donbass area of Ukraine in 2014 escalated into an armed conflict between the Ukrainian government and the Russia-backed separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and regular Russian forces.

The 72nd Mechanized Brigade participated in all major military operation in Donbass region from 2014 as today. As a result of prolonged hostilities, the movement of separatists was stopped, but еhe brigade suffered heavy losses.

And now the 72nd Brigade returned from a costly military mission that spanned more than a 3-years and claimed the lives of many Ukrainian soldiers.

Families were excited to see their soldiers and they were emotional when they finally had a chance to hold them again. There were tears, smiles and warm embraces. The military marched from the military base to the city center. On all the way they were meeting by locals with flowers and balloons.

The 72nd Mechanized Brigade Chornykh Zaporozhtsiv in next months, will receive reinforcements and replenish its reserves, after which it will once again to deploy at the East of Ukraine.